The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Eyes twitching, the man looked at himself then at the rows of men on either side, “Tell me, do we look like robbers?”

The people shook their heads with a genial smile.

“Clan Head, don’t listen to this civilian’s nonsense. What does a Radiant Stage cultivator know?”

“Yeah, Clan Head, just ignore him. Sir’s brilliant martial renown is above thievery. He’s just scared to death and babbles on.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“Indeed…”

They all agreed, looking at Zhuo Fan in disdain and disregard.

“You don’t have to say that.”

The middle-aged man shook his hand, turning to Zhuo Fan, “By barging into this man’s home, we invite suspicion of being less than we are. This is excusable. But we are righteous men, forced by circumstances to resort to such debase methods, making us look like killers and criminals. How are we any different then, from Shangguan Feiyun that betrayed our clan, our greatest shame?”

“Clan Head is wise!”

They all stood and bowed to the middle-aged man.

The man nodded and smiled, “Little brother, to be honest, we’ve barged into your peaceful abode from lack of choice. I hope you could let us seek refuge for a few days. I would be most grateful.”

The middle-aged man stood up and bowed a little to Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan nodded inwardly.

[Regardless of methods, he knows how to win someone over, fishing for compliments while also being very wise and worthy of respect.]

[In any case, quite remarkable for a leader. As for the rest…]

Glancing at the extras, Zhuo Fan scrunched his nose, waving his hands like a victim, “Big brother, you already have your blade on our necks. I have no choice but to give you shelter, even drag me through the latrine if you want to.”

Pff!

The middle-aged man burst out and the rest laughed.

“Little brother, no need to be so tense. We’ll be gone soon. We’re not here to hurt you, just borrowing.”

“Who would believe that? Anyone of you is stronger than me and can kill me with your thumb.” Zhuo Fan complained, “Big brother, where do you come from?”

“You want to know who we are?” Someone shouted at Zhuo Fan’s question, scaring him back and hugging young Sanzi close.

Glaring at the speaker, the middle-aged man smiled, “There’s no point in hiding it. We’re from the eastern lands.”

“Eastern lands!”

Zhuo Fan pondered, then sighed, “When I was hunted down in the western lands, I thought of going through the central area to flee to eastern lands, but I’m glad I didn’t. It seems eastern lands isn’t any better than western lands for all you experts to resort to this. Eastern lands must be in dire straits.”

Pff!

The middle-aged man almost spat blood, bearing a crestfallen look, “Little brother, after all I’ve said, you still see us as robbers?”

“H-how could I?”

Zhuo Fan panicked, “How could I see heroes like yourselves as mere robbers? You’re temporary guests, borrowing and taking for now. If this becomes permanent, I won’t mind it either.”

The middle-aged man’s face sunk, holding his head and sighed. This great and known Clan Head was now seen by a little guy as nothing more than a murderer and thief. If eastern lands heard it, all the sects would laugh.

Shortly after, bright laughter echoed, followed by a familiar girl, “Father, I told you not to see him. He’s a petty guy with a nasty tongue, completely opposite of your righteous character. Look at you, a Genesis Stage expert angered to the extreme by mere words. Why is that? Ha-ha-ha…”

f𝙧ee𝙬ℯ𝐛𝓃𝐨𝚟𝒆𝘭. c𝒐𝓂

Zhuo Fan looked to see the mystery girl from before, entering with a handsome youth behind her staring at them with sharp eyes. He was young and already in the Soul Harmony Stage. He’d be a worthy candidate for the title of the best if this was the western lands.

“Uncle!” The guy bowed before the middle-aged man, ignoring Zhuo Fan as he returned behind the girl.

The middle-aged man chuckled, turning to Zhuo Fan, “Do you know my daughter, little brother?”

Zhuo Fan bobbed his head with a lost look.

“I heard she’s your cousin.”

With a sinister smile, the middle-aged man laughed, “Since I’m her father, that makes me your uncle. And uncle here came to visit his kin, not rob. Is this easier to accept? Ha-ha-ha…”

Ugh!

Zhuo Fan gave him a long look then chuckled inwardly.

[This guy is a man of principles, but not pedantic, looking to justify himself. First you take our house and now you write it off as a family visit. How amusing…]

“Big brother…”

“It’s uncle!”

Sighing, Zhuo Fan put on a strained face as the middle-aged man tried to become Zhuo Fan’s senior.

Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes and returned to the main topic, “Us two come from western lands and only found the girl wounded just as we bought the house. I’m an alchemist and I saved your daughter’s life. In the end, when the guards came to search us, your daughter threatened me to bluff my way out, even using my Gu name. It’s dangerous enough to hold one person, but now, will all of you unknown people in my house, if you’re found…”

“I understand your concern.”

The middle-aged man waved with a stern face, “Little brother, I know everything from Yan’er. As a father, I’m most grateful for sheltering her and saving her life. But our operation has countless lives in eastern lands at stake. Success is a must. While some decisions are not to my liking, I still have to make them. We must take your house!

“Because we can’t find any better place to stay. You know as well how tight security has become. Because of you, Yan’er is now a member of this household. Whether you like it or not, she is above suspicion.”

Zhuo Fan choked, “Are you saying you’ll silence us?”

“That’s not it at all. I just hope you will work with us and not force us to resort to such vile acts.”

The middle-aged man sighed, “We won’t do anything to you, just keep you here at most. Once our business is done, we’ll be out of your hair. But if you wish to work with us, it will make our interactions easier. Since you’re my nephew, right? Ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan hesitated as he looked at Gu Santong, considering his child’s safety first, “But, how can I believe you won’t hurt us?”

“With the name of the famed Shangguan clan!”

The middle-aged man’s eyes shone.

Zhuo Fan cried out, “Shangguan clan? The same best clan in eastern lands?”

“Yes, I am Shangguan clan’s Clan Head, Shangguan Feixiong.”

The middle-aged man declared, then pointed at the girl and youth, “She is my daughter, Shangguan Qingyan, and my nephew, Shangguan Yulin. Everyone else is a venerable or elder of the Shangguan clan.”

Shaking, Zhuo Fan could hardly believe the best clan of eastern lands’ entire experts were here en masse, “That means that Shangguan Feiyun, one of the Nine Sword Kings is your…”

“Younger brother.”

Shangguan Feixiong gnashed his teeth. “But ever since he betrayed eastern lands, casting his lot with Invincible Sword, I no longer have a brother. We came here to take back the eastern lands’ treasure he stole. Little brother, I hope, on account of the alliance between the four areas, that you’d help hide us.”

Zhuo Fan’s heart sank, looking into Shangguan Feixiong’s wise eyes, and nodded, “Don’t worry, uncle, we’re all on the same side. I will definitely help the Shangguan clan succeed!”

“Grea-, uh, wait, what?”

His heroic valor got Shangguan Feixiong to nod in reflex. But then he cried out, startled, “W-what did you call me?”

Zhuo Fan scratched his nose with a chuckle, “Uncle, didn’t you see yourself as such? Did you forget already?”

Zhuo Fan patted Gu Santong’s head proudly, “Young Sanzi, we’re hailing for a renowned clan. Once we return with uncle to eastern lands, none shall pick on us. We’ll see if they dare lay a finger on us after uttering the name Shangguan. We’re no longer vagrants, ha-ha-ha…”

“Yeah, let’s also go slaughter western lands later, kill all our pursuers!” Gu Santong bobbed his cute head, bearing a nasty smirk.

Everyone else looked on, speechless.

[For crying out loud! One moment they were scared like mice and now they have no shame with power behind them…]